The Portland daily press., 1887-04-01
THIS TERRIBLE WINTER.
Thrilling Adventure in Franklin coun-
ty-How a Horse Was Buried Alive,
While Half Frozen Travellers crept
In Beside Hirn
Pennington ChronlcIe.l

lrdituiibtOlA
The adventures of three citizens OF Eustis
in their attempt to reach this town in season
to attend the court here are worthy Of being
recorded, and for heroism and suffering OF
the kind are almost unsurpassed IN the MS
tory Of the county. A. 7. Fletcher, Chas.
NJ. Porter and Albert Blanchard, Jr., left
Eustis early Monday in Mr.. Porter's one
horse team, intending to reach Harrington
in season for the opening of court Tuesday.
From Stratton to the woods they found it
hard going, but still not by any means inn
passable. When they reached the woods
their trouble began. The snow outside the
very narrow track was exceedingly SOFT and
very deep, and if the horse made the slight
est misstep he would drop down at once to
his middle and slumped badly in the beaten
! track So slowly were they obliged to go
thai it was one o'clock before they reached
Cleaves. Here they rested the animal until
half past 2 o clock, when they again started
ON tI;A;, wav. The wind had been blowing
6ercelv ara the n.errow load was badly
blocked. They we're cDngeu y ieaee 'he
sleigh and shovel ahead q nuf a tha
they reached the bluffs they ~, .~fraid that
must leave the pung and were =. " terr Si,Is
they must desert their horse 70 ness
death. While struggling onward ddtA 1 81,
overlook them, and almost discouraged IN y
! concluded that their only hope lay IN taking
| to the river. But trial of that resort found
the snow 80 deep and the crust so sharp That
It had to be abandoned. Having Ieacne9
| the bluffs council OF war was helu ana
Blanchard was sent on ailenq 70 shoVel ana
struggle onward to Kingfeld IL possible 70
| secure assistance The other two Dusled
/ themselves in selecting place on the south
\ cant Of the bluff and digging trench woe
I enough TO lead the horse In ana cover MIN
! up. The animal was indeed IN pltlaDle
| condition He was covered with balls OF
| shivered, snorted and trembled with cold
| and terror. After digging the trench OF
| sufficient taepth and width they led the horse
| into ii and broke the small branches Oh trees
| to cover over him. They then slowly ana
| laboriouslv waded back the half mile to their
! ming and got the buffaloes, with Which they
/ lined the inproyised stable. Again they re-
| turned and secured the seat and the little
| poor hay in the bottom OF the pung for iced
| for the horse. On their way back with these
necessaries, they, saw appsQaening snem ~
lantern and heard the shouts OF their de-
liyerers. Mr.. Blanchard had succeeded IN
making his way to Klngtield, where ne ar
rived at half past eleven, and Messrs. wat
son and Woodcock had volunteered 70 go y
tie rescue with lanterns, axes, matches, OIL
anu peSt Ol al generous ouF.ui9 u fovu
from the well filed larders Of the iate
Winter. -Four miles these men had toiled
back ON foot in a bowling wind storm with
the thermometer far below zero. and had
led at half past one, just in time to rem:
der the much needed assistance. At once
they built a rousIng me- and relieved the
worn out outeastsl who crept Ia ancnss the
buffaloes beside their horse for desired rest.
Early the next morning they shoveled
path, led their horse and hauled their pung
in to Kingfeld, arriving there at about
eleven. For twenty-eight years" says Mr.
Porter, Il have lived in Eustis, but never
dition as they were fiat day." We viii
wager that none of them desire to repeat The
nYnnriannn